The Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020 is an act of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly prohibiting conversion therapy.
| Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Citation | A2020-49 |
| Passed | 27 August 2020 |
| Assented to | 4 September 2020 |
| Introduced by | Andrew Barr MLA, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality and Shane Rattenbury MLA, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety |
| Introduced | 13 August 2020 |
| Status: Current legislation | |
Development
editThe ACT Human Rights Commission was closely involved in the development of the legislation.[1]
In 2018, Minister for Health and Wellbeing Meegan Fitzharris announced that the ACT Government would pass legislation to ban conversion therapy.[2] The legislation was delayed because of difficulties in legally defining conversion therapy.[3]
Provisions
editThe legislation bans all practices aimed at changing a person's sexual or gender identity.[4] Offences under the act may be punished with a sentence of up to 12 months or a fine of up to A$24,000.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Commission brings care to handling complaints". City News Canberra. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ Burgess, Katie (18 May 2018). "Chris underwent gay conversion therapy in a Canberra church. Now, the ACT will ban it". Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ Jervis-Bardy, Dan (3 November 2019). "Gay conversion therapy to banned by 2020 under new plan". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ Doherty, Peta (26 August 2020). "LGBTQI conversion therapy bill to be put before ACT Legislative Assembly amid concerns conversion definition is 'too broad'". ABC News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ Doherty, Peta; Roy, Tahlia (27 August 2020). "LGBTQ conversion therapy banned in Canberra as Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Bill passes". ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.